"Support customs inspection but do not cost businesses more"

Mr. Dang The Phuong, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong Transport Association, said that the inspection of goods by the customs side is causing businesses to bear a lot of costs, possibly even hundreds of millions of dong.
Many export enterprises said that the customs inspection can sometimes cost them hundreds of millions of dong more. Many problems regarding import-export procedures and policies were raised by the business community of 04 localities in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Hung Yen at a dialogue conference with the customs sector on March 2. The total export turnover of goods in these four localities last year reached about 46 billion USD, accounting for nearly 12.3% of the value of the whole country.

In the case of the process of bringing goods from the port around to the screening area and then back to the port, if it is not cleared immediately, for large enterprises, there are hundreds of lots that can take all day. But the more "suffering" for businesses, according to him, is that when they think they have finished all procedures, they just need to go to the port to pick up goods, they will receive information that requires customs screening and re-inspection. The retention of goods causes businesses, especially large-scale units, to lose a few dozen to several hundred million more in just 1-3 days.

Besides, according to Ms. Luu Thu Huong, Chairman of Hai Duong Business Association, assessed that the specialized inspection in import and export of goods is still not quick, updating information is not synchronized. Customs clearance inspection time is still slow, according to the assessment of enterprises in the industry in Hai Duong, affecting the quality of goods, especially agricultural products. Many administrative procedures have many points that are not synchronized among ministries, agencies and agencies.

A previous study by VCCI showed that 38% of enterprises still faced difficulties and obstacles in the process of finding out information about import and export administrative procedures and 24% of enterprises reflected on the status of regulations or legal policies. Laws change frequently, causing difficulties for production and business activities.

Before the information from businesses, Mr. Hoang Viet Cuong, Deputy Director of the General Department of Customs (Ministry of Finance) pledged to find a way to completely handle it. Accordingly, relevant ministries, agencies, and businesses will review how to manage and check where problems are encountered, not allowing the state of enterprises to declare electronically but must bring papers to stamp.

With the reflection of the Hai Phong Transport Association, Mr. Cuong said that he completely agreed with the inspection of goods to be harmonized, creating favorable conditions for businesses, especially without incurring costs.
According to the leader of the General Department of Customs, in 2022, 14.5 million declarations will be recorded, of which 4% are the red channel - that is, the actual inspection is required. This number is in line with international practice. And the fact that the declaration belongs to the red channel does not mean 100% inspection but depends on the decision of the head of the customs department according to the situation at that time.
In addition, weak logistics services, especially the lack of cold storage while goods exported to China are often congested, are also cited by many businesses as an obstacle. Enterprises are also facing difficulties because of the policy of increasing loan interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations in a high range.

To clarify, Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuc, Director of Fusa Organic Agriculture Joint Stock Company (Hai Duong), said that the first container of red grapefruit of the enterprise exported from Hai Phong to London port took 70 days, while from Thailand It only takes about 40 days to go. He also noted that the bank interest rate up to 9% makes it really difficult for businesses in the agricultural sector to get loans.

Source: Duc Minh, VnExpress. (2023, March 2nd)